Aquatic amusement device



Aug. 6, 1957 v, YOUNT 2,801,850

AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed July 9, 1956 I VESTA :A. You NT mmvrox.

wywk HER AGENT.

ilnited States Patent-O 2,801,850 AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE" Vesta A. Yount, Chicago, Ill. Application July 9, 1956, Serial o. 596,573

2 Claims. or. z72- -1 Another object of the present invention is to provide an aquatic device from which a stream ofwater is ejected in response to manual effort of a person riding thereon in a body of water. X l

A detailed object of the present invention is to provide a whale-shaped object adapted to float in water and from which a spout of water is caused to issue forth upon the performance of a simple manual operation by a person riding thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved aquatic amusement device from which a stream of water may be caused to issue and which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention, the aquatic amusement device takes the form of an article or object adapted to float in a body of water. One end of a conduit is disposed to lie normally beneath the surface of the water when the object is placed therein; the conduit includes an enlarged elastic portion intermediate its ends and which is mounted externally of the object. In addition, means disposed in the conduit permits substantially unimpeded Water-flow through the conduit in a direction from the end lying beneath the water surface toward the other end of the conduit, while retarding waterfiow in the opposite direction. Upon alternate expansion and compression of the elastic portion, water is drawn into the immersed end and is expelled from the other end.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The organization and manner of operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a whale-shaped aquatic amusement device embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, of one end of a conduit arranged in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, of the other end of the conduit.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1 for purposes of illustration, object 10 is in the shape of a whale and is buoyant in a body of water indicated at 11. Whale-shaped object 10 includes a mouth portion 12 and an eye 13, which may be painted on the skin of the object, so as to lend realism, particularly as to younger children. In its preferred form, object 10 is ends.

hollow, being fabricated of rubber or similarmaterial and including anair-valve 14 through which compressed air is introduced into the thus formed cavity to inflate the object and thereby render it buoyant.

. As an aid in its use by and for the convenience of person riding on object 10, a seat portion 15 is formed in the dorsal or top surface 16 thereof. Also, for the convenience and safety of persons riding on object 10, a handle 18 is secured to object 10 at the upper-frontportion of seat portion 15. Handle 18 is preferably of hard rubber and is U-shaped, its ends being heat-sealed or otherwise firmly aflixed to object 10.

The invention contemplates a novel arrangement for causing a stream of water to issue from object 10; as applied more particularly to the present embodiment, the water is caused to issue forth from the top of the whale so as to resemble spouting thereof. To this end, there is provided a conduit 20 which includes an enlarged elastic portion or bulb '21 intermediate its upper and lower Bulb 21 is mounted externally on object 10 and preferably is positioned immediately in front of seat 15 so as to be convenient to the person riding therein. Herein, conduit 20 is in two parts, comprising an inlet conduit 24 and an outlet conduit 25. One end of inlet conduit 24 is coupled to bulb 21; its opposite end portion 26 terminates at or adjacent the ventral or bottom surface 27 of object 10. One end of outlet conduit 25 is similarly coupled to bulb 21 and its opposite end portion 28 preferably terminates at or adjacent the portion of dorsal "surface 16 in front of seat 15. r

As shown, conduit2t) is enclosed substantially within object 10. Its upper and lower end portions 28 and 26, respectively, protrude through the skin. of object 10, lower end portion 26 thus normally lying beneath the surface of and communicating with water 11; the conduit is heat-sealed to the skin at the point where the upper and lower end portions pass therethrough. Forthe purpose of mounting bulb 21 external-1y on object 10, the intermediate portion of the conduit is brought through the skin of the object by means of heat-seal connections indicated at 29 and 3i]. 7 I

Means is included within conduit 20 for permitting substantially unimpeded water-flow therethrough in a direction inwardly of lower end portion 26 while retarding water-flow in the opposite direction. To this end, a pair of check-valves are disposed in conduit 20 on opposite sides of bulb 21. Figure 2 illustrates a simple check-valve 30 suitable for use on either side of bulb 21, but herein shown disposed within upper end portion 28. Check-valve 30 comprises an annular member 31 heat-sealed around its periphery to the inner wall of conduit 20 near the upper end thereof. A flapper 32, hinged adjacent the hole 33 in member 31, is disposed to swing downwardly against member 31 to cover hole 33. Preferably, all parts are made of rubber or plastic so as to be easily heat-sealable one to another. It should also be noted that end portion 28 preferably is tapered to form a constriction or nozzle at its terminus.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of check-valve 35 suitable for use in either the lower or upper end portions of conduit 20, but herein shown within lower end portion 26. Check-valve 35 includes an annular member 36 having a hole 37 and into which a ball 38, disposed above member 36, is adapted to seat. A screen 39 is disposed inwardly of member 36, preventing ball 38 from moving upwardly within conduit 20 more than an amount suflicient to allow a substantial quantity of water to flow through hole 37, past ball 38 and on upwardly through the conduit. Member 36 and screen 39 preferably are heat-sealed around their peripheries to the inner wall of conduit 20.

In operation, the previously inflated object 10 is placed into water 11 whereupon it supports a human being (not shown) ridingin seat and thus straddling dorsal surface 16. The person then alternately compresses and permits expansion of bulb 21 by grasping and releasing the same with his hand. As bulb 21 expands, water is drawn into the immersed lower end of conduit through check-valve 35; at the same time, air is prevented from entering the system through'the upper conduit end by check-valve 30. Upon subsequent compression of bulb 21, any air initially in conduit 20 is forced upwardly therethrough and out of the upper conduit end, since lower check-valve 35 prevents fluid flow in a direction outwardly of lower end portion 26. Accordingly, the water is able to flow only in a direction inwardly of the lower end. After bulb 21 has thus been pumped a few times, conduit 20 becomes filled with water whereupon, each time bulb 21 is compressed, a spout of water is ejected from the upper conduit end; as bulb 21 subsequently is permitted to expand, additional water is drawn into lower end portion 26 through check-valve 35.

In a typical embodiment of the present invention, conduit 20 is fabricated from inch diameter rubber tubing approximately three feet in overall length. Bulb 21 is oval shaped, its major and minor dimensions being approximately 2 /2 by 3 /2 inches; bulb 21 is constructed of firm, highly elastic rubber and has a capacity of about three ounces. In use, a stream of water spouts forth from the upper conduit end a distance of several yards.

It is thus seen that there is provided a useful and intriguing arrangement which is composed of parts simple and economical to manufacture and assemble. The present invention is adaptable to any of the particular shapes variously employed for devices of this character. It is, of course, unnecessary that object 10 be of the inflatable variety formed of a resilient material; indeed, it may be in the form of a hollow shell of plastic or other suitable material. Furthermore, if a larger quantity of waterfiow is desired, it is but a simple matter to incorporate additional elastic bulbs into the system, being careful to include any necessary check-valves to avoid internal circulating currents.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects; Accordingly, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An aquatic amusement device comprising: a buoyant body simulating an actual object of the kind having an opening through which a jet of water is expelled, said body being large enough to support a person riding thereon on a body of water; an elongated conduit supported by said object and having an inlet end normally immersed in said body of water, an outlet end exposed above said body of water and positioned to cause water to be expelled at the location corresponding to said opening, and at least an intermediate portion disposed externally of said object, said intermediate portion including an elastic bulb enlargement located for engagement by the hands of said person; means'in the inlet sideof said conduit for permitting substantially unimpeded water-flow therethrough toward said bulb enlargement while impeding water flow in the opposite direction; and means in the outlet side of said conduit for permitting expulsion of the water in said conduit through said outlet end, while impeding the admission of air through said outlet end, whereby, upon alternate expansion and compression of said bulb enlargement, water is drawn into said inlet end and expelled from said outlet end.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said object comprises an inflatable chamber which assumes the shape of an animal figure when fully inflated and which maintains said shape while supporting said person, and wherein said conduit passes through said figure and has an outlet end portion extending from the upper surface of said figure.

Reference's Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,618 Lazelle Jan. 28, 1919 1,903,805 Buckley Apr. 18, 1933 2,297,727 Svoboda et al. Oct. 6, 1942 2,611,996 Garelick Sept. 30, 1952 2,688,207 Hurt Sept. 7, 1954 

